Camp Give 2025: 80 Young Leaders, 500 Hours of Service, Countless Lessons Learned

September 8, 2025 | Written by Francesca Dishueme

At New Life Furniture Bank, campers used donated wood scraps to build furniture for families in need.

Camp Give, the flagship summer program from Magnified Giving, wrapped up its 2025 season after 5 dynamic weeks that left a lasting impression on 80 young changemakers. Throughout June and July, rising 5th to 9th graders engaged in hands-on activities and fun service projects aimed at nurturing empathy, compassion, and leadership.

The Healing Center welcomed 8th-9th grade campers, offering them the opportunity to pack produce for “The Marketplace”, their food pantry. This was often cited as campers’ favorite project during their week-long experience!

Each day, campers began with intimate leadership activities or creative team-building games. They would then visit local nonprofits to learn about their missions and address real community needs through meaningful service, often gaining insight into social issues they had never encountered before. For example, at The Healing Center, an organization that provides a wide range of services to support basic needs and help the community thrive, campers sorted and organized fresh produce into bags for the Healing Center’s food pantry. This was many campers’ introduction to the inner workings of poverty. One 8th grade camper, Sydney, learned, “Other people might feel scared or insecure to ask for help, so we should be understanding.” As Sydney can testify to, campers connected with how they can use time, talent, and treasure to support empathetic efforts towards solving challenges in their own community.

For summer 2025, Magnified Giving partnered with several local nonprofit organizations for Camp Give, including 1N5, Queen City Book Bank. Dream Center Cincinnati, Band in a Bus, Henry Hosea House, See3D, Easterseals Redwood, Frankies Furry Friends Rescue, GoPantry, Rooms with Love, New Life Furniture Bank, Survivor Cards, Keep Cincinnati Beautiful, Tikkun Farm, The Healing Center, The Dragonfly Foundation, and Make-a-Wish Foundation.

Campers from Upspring Walnut Hills show off their grant checks to 1N5, a participating nonprofit, at their end-of-camp celebration.

At the end of each week, campers prepared thoughtful presentations to share about the nonprofits they served, inviting parents and community members to hear their stories. They also selected nonprofits to receive a portion of their camp fee, allowing campers to experience the joy and impact of giving in action! After reflecting on any positive changes noticed in their child after participating in camp, one parent noted, “She was so excited to go to camp every day. She was so proud of all of the things they did.” Another said, “It’s been eye-opening for him and given him a better understanding of the great needs within our communities.”

Camp Give campers spent their summer building friendships, stepping outside their comfort zones, and engaging with their communities in new ways. The confidence and perspective they gained will continue to influence how they see themselves and the world around them. 

At their end-of-camp celebration, brave 8th-9th grade campers led a Youth Panel Discussion to discuss highlights and takeaways from their week.

Becca Freyhof, Camp Director at Magnified Giving, shares what is particularly exciting about this year’s Camp Give, "What stood out about this year’s camps was the incredible joy of seeing our first partnership with UpSpring come to life, allowing us to broaden the impact of our community partner camps.” Speaking to the spirit of the summer journey, she adds, “Throughout the entire summer and across all of our camps, it was especially meaningful to witness so many campers leave inspired and eager to continue their volunteer journeys with some of the nonprofits they connected with—truly a reflection of the heart and purpose of our summer together."

Thank you to all of the nonprofits who partnered with us to educate campers in their missions and arrange meaningful service projects and activities!

Join Us Next Summer

Though Camp Give 2025 has ended, another summer of empowering young people to understand philanthropy, take meaningful action, and see themselves as part of something bigger awaits. Together, we’re building a culture of generosity, magnifying it one camper at a time.

For more information on Camp Give, click here.

5th-7th graders spent an afternoon at Tikkun Farms feeding animals and potting native plants.

5th-7th graders started off the week writing and delivering  thank you cards for the police, fire, admin staff of Evendale.

UpSpring Florence got to enjoy the highly engaging teambuilding of Kathy Gray!